With some of the wettest weather on record in Britain for August, UK leisure attractions are finding that their peak period is experiencing a considerable dip in attendance figures.
According to Balppa chief executive Colin Dawson the ‘appalling’ weather of the past month is especially bad for business when the previous year’s summer weather is considered.
Between August 6-10, the Met Office issued more than 20 severe weather warnings, while parts of eastern and northern England have witnessed a full 24 hours of heavy rainfall. This time last year, on 10 August 2003, the UK’s highest ever temperature was recorded – 38.5?C (101?F).
Dawson said: “Apart from the occasional bright spot, the weather has been appalling this year. There’s no question that the weather has had a detrimental effect on the performance of most attractions apart from a favoured few – like the London Dungeons – which aren’t affected by the bad weather.”
“We can cope with most conditions and it doesn’t have to be brilliant sunshine all the time but rain is a killer for us, especially when its being forecast day after day.”
The Tussauds group, which owns UK attractions such as Alton Towers and Thorpe Park, confirmed Dawson’s opinion that adverse weather conditions have made attracting visitors difficult.
A spokesperson said: “As with many visitor attraction operators in the UK and Europe, the continued unusually bad weather this summer has had an effect. While the Tussauds Group’s flexible strategy and wide-ranging portfolio of operations helps mitigate the impact of this abnormal weather, it is safe to say that we have experienced a difficult trading environment.”
London tourism marketing body, Visit London, remains optimistic that we may yet see a late burst of summer sunshine. A spokesperson said: “It has been an unsettled August so far and it is sad that an English National Opera event planned for Trafalgar Square had to be cancelled but, on the flip side, it is great to see London being so proactive and hosting so many outdoor public events these days. We are hoping for an Indian summer and are optimistic about a great September for Totally London Festivals month.”
According to a Met Office spokesperson, while August has been very wet, the wettest August on record was in 1912, when 193mm of rain fell in the month, as opposed to 138mm of rain this month.
They said: “August has seen typical English weather – it’s been wet but not the wettest by far. Certain Met Office stations around the country have had records broken but in many parts its just been wet and that’s it.
“Besides, this is what we’re known for as a nation, carrying an umbrella everywhere. We do see a lot of rain in the summer months. Unfortunately the weather doesn’t always play ball with our idea of summer – but that’s the way it is in this country,” they added.
